a bit
1. A small portion, degree, or amount. It got a bit warm when the sun started shining so I'm not going to need to wear this coat today. I forgot my lunch, can I have a bit of yours? I'm afraid I've caught a bit of a cold.
2. A brief amount of time; a moment. I should be over in five minutes, so I'll see you in a bit! Well, Betty came over for a bit this morning before church. I only stayed a bit, so I didn't get any details about her new job.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
a bit
1. A small amount of anything; also, a short period of time. For example, Here's a bit of wrapping paper, or It'll be ready in a bit, or Just wait a bit. [c. 1600]
2. Somewhat or rather, as in
It stings a bit, or
Will you have a bit more to eat? [Second half of 1600s] Also see
bit by bit;
not a bit.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
bit
1. n. a jail sentence. (Underworld.) Mooshoo did a two-year bit in Sing Sing.
2. n. a small theatrical part. (From bit part.) It was just a bit, but I needed the money.
3. n. any part of an act; any isolated activity or presentation. I didn’t like that bit concerning penalties.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.